A CRUSADER TOWN
PRESERVED AT
ACRE
Acre (modern
name: Akko
or Akka) is a
city in the
western
Galilee region
of northern
Israel.
Acre (modern
name: Akko
or Akka) is a
city in the
western
Galilee region
of northern
Israel.
Acre (modern
name: Akko
or Akka) is a
city in the
western
Galilee region
of northern
Israel.
Acre is one of the
oldest continuously
inhabited sites in the
country.
Acre is one of the
oldest continuously
inhabited sites in the
country.
The name of the city
appears in documents
of ancient Egypt dating
to the 16th century
BC.—in a tribute list of
Thutmose III, the socalled Napoleon of
New Kingdom Egypt
Acre is one of the
oldest continuously
inhabited sites in the
country.
The name of the city
appears in documents
of ancient Egypt dating
to the 16th century
BC.—in a tribute list of
Thutmose III, the socalled Napoleon of
New Kingdom Egypt
Alexander
the Great
annexed
the city
into his
empire.
It was renamed Ptolemais
by Ptolemy II of Egypt,
It was renamed Ptolemais
by Ptolemy II of Egypt,
It was renamed Ptolemais
by Ptolemy II of Egypt,
leader of the dynasty
that ruled Egypt after the
death of Alexander.
As Ptolemais, the city
eventually became part of
the Roman Empire.
The city came under the rule of the Muslims beginning in 638.
The city came under the rule of the Muslims beginning in 638.
The Muslims renamed the city Akka.
It became prosperous and the main port of Palestine.
The Muslims renamed the city Akka.
It became prosperous and the main port of Palestine.
In 1104, it
was captured
by the
Christian
forces of the
First Crusade
(Baldwin I,
King of
Jerusalem) .
It became a
part of the
Kingdom of
Jerusalem and
the main port
of the eastern
Mediterranean.
It became a
part of the
Kingdom of
Jerusalem and
the main port
of the eastern
Mediterranean.
In 1187, Acre was re-taken by Saladin
SALADIN
SALADIN
One of the most
famous of Muslim
military heroes
and a leader who
had succeeded in
uniting all of the
Middle East
against the
Crusaders.
In 1191, the city was
returned to Christian
rule by Richard the
Lionhearted during
the Third Crusade.
In 1191, the city was
returned to Christian
rule by Richard the
Lionhearted during
the Third Crusade.
It became
the capital
of the
remnant of
the
Kingdom of
Jerusalem.
It was the final
stronghold of the
Crusader state until
1291 when a
Muslim army from
Egypt ousted Acre’s
Christian garrison in
a bloody siege.
The city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1517 and fell into
almost total decay until its revival in the 18th century.
The existing
city was built
by the
Ottoman Turks
around 1750
and was built
over the city of
the Crusader
era, effectively
preserving
Crusader town
which lay
hidden for
centuries.
"It's like Pompeii of Roman times —
it's a complete city,"
Eliezer Stern,
the Israeli archaeologist in charge of Acre
"one of the most exciting sites in
the world of archaeology."
Eliezer Stern,
the Israeli archaeologist in charge of Acre
As a Crusader
city, Acre was
the
headquarters
and under
control of the
Knights
Hospitallers
Known officially as
“Knights of the Order of
the Hospital of St. John of
Jerusalem,” the
Hospitallers was founded
at Jerusalem during the
first Crusade to provide
care for poor, sick or
injured pilgrims. It
became a religious and
military order was
charged with the care and
defense of the Holy Land.
The most important of the subterranean
remains of Acre of the Crusaders was the
headquarters of the Order of the Hospitallers
(the Knights of St. John).
It is an extensive building complex (ca. 4,500
sq. m.) with halls and many rooms built around
a broad, open central courtyard.
The Central Courtyard contained a
well which provided a secure water
supply for the inhabitants.
Castle Well
After the rule of the crusaders, this place was filled
with earth and stones to the top.
Much work for the archeologists to empty it again.
Located just off the Central Courtyard
was a public latrine with thirty stalls.
LATRINE
The Hospitaller headquarters
contains a number of halls built by
the Knights for a variety of
purposes.
The great hall is the largest of the Knights hall (45 x 30M), and consists of 20 vaults and 15
columns with a square base. It was used as a hospital.
The Refectorium (Latin for "a place to restore") refers to the dining room. This impressive
hall is composed of 8 vaults , 10M high, and is 450 square meters. It included a kitchen.
A narrow tunnel
connected the dining
hall to the "crypt" (Greek
for hidden), an
underground room
under the church of St.
John.
This tunnel was used by
the Crusaders to allow
underground access
between the fortress
and hidden armory
caches.
This hall is not
reconstructed
The walls and
columns are all
from the 12th
century.
The roof of this hall
is lower than other
structures. It has no
windows and is
outside the main
complex .
Therefore it was
named the
"prisoners hall".
These six halls were the barracks of the members of the Hospitalers.
The halls, 10 meters high, are a single large space divided by arched
openings.
In 1099 the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem and turned the Dome
of the Rock into a church.
The Templar
Knights, a
militaryreligious
organization,
was established
in 1118, and
named their
organization
after the
temple: the
guards of the
temple.
Their task, as
defined by
the pope,
was to
protect the
pilgrims who
visited the
Holy Land.
When the Crusaders were driven out from Jerusalem by
Saladin in 1187, the Templars retreated to Acre - the
Crusaders last stronghold in the Holy Land.
When the Crusaders were driven out from Jerusalem by
Saladin in 1187, the Templars retreated to Acre - the
Crusaders last stronghold in the Holy Land.
Their Acre fortress, now gone, was protected by mighty
walls and four towers.
They also cut a 350M wide tunnel under the rock from
the fortress to the south-west side of the city, in order to
provide a concealed access to the Crusaders inner port.
The tunnel was cut into the rock as a semi-barreled arch,
and its ceiling was reinforced by hewn (cut) stones.
The Templar
Tunnel
The Templar
Tunnel
Leads from the
Templar fortress to
the port.
The Templar
Tunnel
Leads from the
Templar fortress to
the port.
Is about 350
meters long.
The tunnel was rediscovered by chance.
The tunnel was rediscovered by chance.
In 1994 a woman living above the tunnel
complained about blocked sewage.
The tunnel was rediscovered by chance.
In 1994 a woman living above the tunnel
complained about blocked sewage.
While searching for the underground block, the
tunnel was discovered.
The tunnel was rediscovered by chance.
In 1994 a woman living above the tunnel
complained about blocked sewage.
While searching for the underground block, the
tunnel was discovered.
It was then cleaned out from more than 800 years
of dirt and filth.
The tunnel was rediscovered by chance.
In 1994 a woman living above the tunnel
complained about blocked sewage.
While searching for the underground block, the
tunnel was discovered.
It was then cleaned out from more than 800 years
of dirt and filth.
After adding a walkway, lights and access, the
tunnel was opened to the public in 1999.